Speed

History and Founding

Speed began as Speedvision on December 31, 1995, founded by a coalition led by Robert Scanlon alongside racing team owner Rick Hendrick and other industry executives. The network was envisioned as a dedicated channel for motorsports and automotive lifestyle content, filling a gap in U.S. television. It quickly gained a loyal following by airing live events from the American Le Mans Series, Rolex Sports Car Series, and Formula One, along with iconic series such as American Hot Rod, My Classic Car, and Pinks.

Business Model and Evolution

In 2001, News Corporation acquired Speedvision and rebranded it as Speed Channel, later simply Speed. Under Fox ownership, the network’s focus shifted heavily toward NASCAR—broadcasting practice sessions, qualifying rounds, and Truck Series races—while maintaining some automotive culture shows. The business model relied on cable subscription fees and advertising. However, in 2013, Fox replaced the U.S. network with Fox Sports 1, discontinuing the domestic Speed channel. The international feed continued as Fox Sports Racing, serving Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

Revival and Current Operations

In November 2022, Robert Scanlon revived the Speed brand under Boss One Media, LLC, as a FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) platform. This digital-only channel streams archived classic Speed programming—such as Truck U, Gearz, and American Hot Rod—along with select live motorsports events not carried by Fox. It is available on streaming platforms like Pluto TV and The Roku Channel. The revived entity is lean, operating with a small team focused on content curation and ad sales. Its target audience is nostalgic motorsports fans who remember the original network, as well as younger viewers discovering classic automotive content.

Market Position and Competitors

Speed’s primary competitors include MAVTV, a cable and streaming network dedicated to motorsports, and CBS Sports Network, which airs some racing events. Niche streaming services like MotorTrend+ also vie for the same audience. Speed’s advantage lies in its brand recognition and nostalgia factor among long-time enthusiasts. However, it struggles to secure rights to major live series—most top-tier motorsports are now locked into long-term contracts with networks like Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and ESPN. The revived Speed differentiates itself by focusing on archival content and niche events, but its advertising revenue model limits its reach compared to subscription-based competitors.

Leadership and Structure

The revived Speed is privately held by Boss One Media, LLC. The only publicly identifiable leader is Robert Scanlon, who serves as Founder, Owner, and Chief Executive. No other C-level officers (CTO, CCO, COO, CFO) are named in public sources. During the original network’s tenure under Fox, leadership was part of Fox Sports’ executive team, including David Hill and later Eric Shanks, but those roles were not specific to Speed as a standalone entity.